Storm show well in loaded field

WAVERLY, Iowa — The trio of Ian McKenzie, Trey Thompson and Jonathan Facio posted top-30 finishes to lead the Simpson men's cross country team to a sixth-place finish of 13 teams at Wartburg's Dan Huston Invitational on Saturday.

The Storm finished with 147 points, just three points behind the eighth-ranked team in the region, Central. The Storm finished ahead of conference school Coe. Three of the teams ahead of Simpson: Loras (10th), Wartburg (20th) and Wis.-Stevens Point (32nd) are ranked nationally. Loras won the meet with 41 points.

McKenzie navigated the 8k course in 26:13.6 to place 11th as the Storm competed at the championship distance for the first time in 2017. Thompson came in 24th, running a 26:46.7. Facio rounded out Simpson's top three, placing 27th in 26:58.5.

Coach Speak
"I am very pleased with how our men raced today. Certainly we have areas where we need to improve, but for our first 8k of the year, I thought it went well." — head coach Heath Moenck

Storm Varsity Finishers
11. Ian McKenzie, 26:13.6
24. Trey Thompson, 26:46.7
27. Jonathan Facio, 26:58.5
41. Kyle Hovey, 27:23.8
44. Levi Lefebure, 27:34.0
48. Seth Nostrala, 27:40.9
49. Luke Evans, 27:41.2

Up Next
Simpson has a week off before going to the Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational in la Crosse, Wis. on Saturday, Oct. 14. Start time is set for 11:30 a.m.